Yardbarker: NBA Rumors and Gossiphttp://www.yardbarker.com/nba
Recent rumors and gossip about NBAen-usLeBron James responds to Laura Ingraham’s jab on InstagramLeBron James wasted no time in responding to FOX News anchor Laura Ingraham, which came as a surprise to no one.James has been known to start fires and then play the victim — making it look as if he took the high road, even though he was the one that stirred the pot in the first place.That’s what happened on Friday night, when he took to Instagram and responded to Ingraham — who told the Cavs star to “shut up and dribble” — via a post that displayed the following:“I am more than an athlete” it read. It’s hard to buy calling out President Donald Trump for supposedly not giving “a f— about the people,” and then just responding with some “ra ra ra” post that doesn’t really accomplish much of anything.James might just be fired up about the new-look Cavs, who have yet to lose since Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr., Rodney Hood and George Hill joined the team to replace some dead weight.17 Feb 2018 10:45:15 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/lebron_james_responds_to_laura_ingrahams_jab_on_instagram/s1_12740_25731998
http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/lebron_james_responds_to_laura_ingrahams_jab_on_instagram/s1_12740_25731998LeBron James responds to Laura Ingraham’s jab on Instagramhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/lebron_james_responds_to_laura_ingrahams_jab_on_instagram/s1_12740_25731998http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/d/6dd9b152b1397f1e323aab31ce6321ca718a8971/top_story/10590637.jpgDwyane Wade instigated Kevin Love drama with Cavaliers?Dwyane Wade was one of many shipped out by the Cleveland Cavaliers at the trade deadline, and apparently his behind-the-scenes behavior wasn’t quite as good as advertised.According to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com, Wade was the first Cavaliers player to challenge coach Tyronn Lue about the whereabouts of Kevin Love after he left the team’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Jan. 20. Wade is also described as “an instigator” in the blowout team meeting two days later in which Love was questioned by teammates.This reportedly set in motion the effort to trade Wade, who was ultimately offered and accepted the opportunity to return to the Miami Heat.Previously, a different Cavaliers player — who is also out the door now — was blamed for the Love fiasco. It sounds like Wade, a veteran who’s highly regarded as a good teammate, wasn’t blameless.16 Feb 2018 14:47:34 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/report_dwyane_wade_instigated_kevin_love_drama_with_cavaliers/s1_127_25726841
http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/report_dwyane_wade_instigated_kevin_love_drama_with_cavaliers/s1_127_25726841Dwyane Wade instigated Kevin Love drama with Cavaliers?http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/report_dwyane_wade_instigated_kevin_love_drama_with_cavaliers/s1_127_25726841http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/d/4d2e4824cfc8b6b6039bc847ce6589b39049a9d4/top_story/10597794.jpgKyrie Irving leaves open possibility of playing with LeBron James againDespite all of the perceived bad blood between former teammates Kyrie Irving and LeBron James, their bridge apparently has not been burned just yet.In an appearance Thursday on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Irving, who was picked by James for his All-Star team, was asked about the possibility of playing with the four-time MVP for real again some time in the future.“In professional sports, anything can happen,” replied the Boston Celtics guard. “So you never know.”Irving and James were teammates together in Cleveland for three seasons, making the NBA Finals all three times and winning a title in 2016. But their relationship ended on a sour note when Irving abruptly asked for a trade last summer and was sent to Boston for an ill-fated Isaiah Thomas-based package.Granted, James has said all the right things about Irving since the trade as well, and seeing the two eventually on the same team again would be far from the craziest development in the NBA in recent years.16 Feb 2018 16:30:12 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/kyrie_irving_leaves_open_possibility_of_playing_with_lebron_james_again/s1_127_25727498
http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/kyrie_irving_leaves_open_possibility_of_playing_with_lebron_james_again/s1_127_25727498Kyrie Irving leaves open possibility of playing with LeBron James againhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/kyrie_irving_leaves_open_possibility_of_playing_with_lebron_james_again/s1_127_25727498http://www.yardbarker.com/media/a/6/a6d824d4da691a5cdf96056a85fda94b8427e7b5/top_story/10548433.jpgRockets owner: Luxury tax no issue if competing for titlesTilman Fertitta recently bought the Houston Rockets for $2.2 billion, but the new owner isn’t afraid of investing a whole lot more money in the franchise.USA Today‘s Sam Amick notes Fertitta said he’ll be “one pissed off son of a gun” if he doesn’t have a few championships, so the luxury tax won’t be an obstacle if the roster is constructed properly.“Everybody has to remember, I did pay $2.2 billion for this team. I didn’t pay $80 million for it, okay? And I’m not worth $20 billion, but I have no problem paying luxury tax if I truly think that it truly gives me the chance to win the championship next year, okay?”According to Amick, Fertitta is worth $4.3 billion.Houston entered the All-Star break holding a league-best 44-13 record, narrowly edging the Golden State Warriors for the No. 1 spot in the Western Conference. Given that success, this is the type of roster for which Fertitta wouldn’t mind paying extra.Fortunately for him, per Basketball Insiders, the Rockets have $116.6 million on the salary sheet thi16 Feb 2018 12:16:56 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/rockets_owner_luxury_tax_no_issue_if_competing_for_titles/s1_12680_25725200
http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/rockets_owner_luxury_tax_no_issue_if_competing_for_titles/s1_12680_25725200Rockets owner: Luxury tax no issue if competing for titleshttp://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/rockets_owner_luxury_tax_no_issue_if_competing_for_titles/s1_12680_25725200http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/5/85adf3565bda7c1222419061c393d46fbff68358/top_story/10353957.jpgWATCH: Timberwolves raise banner for late Flip SaundersThe Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night paid tribute to the memory of Flip Saunders, the iconic coach and executive who is perhaps one of the most beloved individuals in franchise history.Saunders passed away at the age of 60 in October 2015 after a battle with Hodgkin lymphoma. At the time of his diagnosis, Saunders was serving as the Timberwolves' president of basketball operations as well as head coach. Kevin Harlan, a former Timerwolves broadcaster who was in town to call the game against the Los Angeles Lakers for TNT, emceed an event that included a raising of a banner into the rafters of Target Center. Several former players who worked under Saunders when he was Minnesota’s head coach were on hand for the ceremony, including Chauncey Billups, Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassel. Several luminaries made comments during the tribute, but perhaps the ones that resonated most were those made by Saunders’ wife, Debbie.“The last two years, the family has had to be brave,” Debbie Saunders said, via ESPN. “It 16 Feb 2018 12:32:34 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/timberwolves_raise_banner_in_tribute_to_the_late_flip_saunders_vid/s1_8061_25725797
http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/timberwolves_raise_banner_in_tribute_to_the_late_flip_saunders_vid/s1_8061_25725797WATCH: Timberwolves raise banner for late Flip Saundershttp://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/timberwolves_raise_banner_in_tribute_to_the_late_flip_saunders_vid/s1_8061_25725797http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/4/642e50fc0597af0c059a05386344ea5a28bf8ad4/top_story/10617622.jpgLeBron discusses racist graffiti incident at his home last yearLeBron James personally framed the racial divide that exists in this country by recalling an incident last year when racist graffiti painted on the gate of his $20 million home in Brentwood, Calif.In a joint interview with Kevin Durant conducted last month by ESPN’s Cari Champion and posted online by UNINTERRUPTED, the Cleveland Cavaliers superstar candidly discussed the experience and how it made him realize there is much work left to be done involving racial issues. “I’m a black man with a bunch of money and a crib in Brentwood, and having the word ‘n—–‘ spray painted over my gate, that lets you know I still have a lot of work to do,” James said, via ESPN.“No matter how far you come,” James later added, “there are always people who want to let you know that you are still beneath them. You either cave in to that notion or you say, you know what, I’m going to paint over this gate and make it taller.”James of course is among the most outspoken superstars playing professional sports at the moment, both on the t16 Feb 2018 10:49:30 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/lebron_james_discusses_racist_graffiti_incident_at_his_home_last_year/s1_8061_25724777
http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/lebron_james_discusses_racist_graffiti_incident_at_his_home_last_year/s1_8061_25724777LeBron discusses racist graffiti incident at his home last yearhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/lebron_james_discusses_racist_graffiti_incident_at_his_home_last_year/s1_8061_25724777http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/c/9ce9b58d14ba1d686d7290a7d77943905ff3c9cc/top_story/10579599.jpgLakers 'angry, disappointed' with LaVar Ball for Luke Walton commentsThe LA Lakers have been careful with how they have addressed LaVar Ball’s criticisms in public, but they have apparently been rather irked in private.ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported on Thursday that the Lakers were “angry and disappointed” with LaVar, the boisterous father of star rookie Lonzo Ball, for recently saying that head coach Luke Walton had lost control of the team. President of basketball operations Magic Johnson was even said to have called an associate of LaVar’s and “strongly admonished” him over the remarks.More from Shelburne:[The Lakers] felt as though no other franchise would be as accommodating and supportive as they had been, only to be rewarded with a constant disrespect and drama. Or, as one official put it, “He [LaVar] reaches out with one hand and slaps us with the other.”Indeed, LaVar has been a constant thorn in the Lakers’ side this season with his attacks on the team (and Walton in particular) for how they are coaching his son. The circus has died down a bit recently given that Lo15 Feb 2018 16:26:16 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/report_lakers_were_angry_disappointed_with_lavar_ball_for_luke_walton_comments/s1_127_25718444
http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/report_lakers_were_angry_disappointed_with_lavar_ball_for_luke_walton_comments/s1_127_25718444Lakers 'angry, disappointed' with LaVar Ball for Luke Walton commentshttp://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/report_lakers_were_angry_disappointed_with_lavar_ball_for_luke_walton_comments/s1_127_25718444http://www.yardbarker.com/media/1/d/1d7d59d64879f029fd3bce2b30c4836a1e163797/top_story/10152203.jpgChris Bosh still hoping for NBA comebackIt has now been more than two years since Chris Bosh last played an NBA game, but the 11-time All-Star still hasn’t given up on the idea of resuming his playing career. Appearing on First Take (video link), Bosh told ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith today that he’s still making an effort to return to the NBA.“I’ve been in the gym. I can still play basketball,” Bosh said. “No, I’m not done yet.”Joking that he can’t call it a career when he sees how many current players are getting by shooting three-pointers and not playing defense, Bosh repeated a sentiment that he has expressed several times since his medical retirement. As recently as November, the former Heat star said he was keeping his options open as a player.Although Bosh is still physically able to play basketball, concerns about his history of blood blots have made him medically ineligible to return to an NBA team. Doctors and teams aren’t willing to assume the risk that those blood clotting issues will resurface if he gets back on the court.Bosh last appeared15 Feb 2018 13:05:29 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/chris_bosh_still_hoping_for_nba_comeback/s1_14822_25716659
http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/chris_bosh_still_hoping_for_nba_comeback/s1_14822_25716659Chris Bosh still hoping for NBA comebackhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/chris_bosh_still_hoping_for_nba_comeback/s1_14822_25716659http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/0/806a816cdeeffd4c91e8d94f67c5e5e72243c130/top_story/USATSI_9112306.jpgLonzo Ball's debut album is an ode to his dadLos Angeles Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball’s debut rap album dropped on Thursday, and it’s nothing less than an ode to his father, the outspoken LaVar Ball. Despite the drama that LaVar has brought to the game of basketball in recent years, we have to hand it to his son for releasing such a heartfelt song in his debut album.It’s in the mold of Tupac’s "Dear Mama" and other songs from that era that paid homage to those who played important roles in the childhoods of these hip-hop legends.The song starts out with LaVar predicting that Lonzo would in fact go No. 2 overall to the Los Angeles Lakers. He did.Lonzo then calls out the haters in a big way — those who have made it their mission to both keep LaVar in the spotlight and attack him at every turn.“Y’all can hate him. That’s my pops, though. First one that’s there for me once it got cold,” Lonzo spits. “Listen to the story, not just how it’s told. Ya’ll think he’s the devil, but yet you the one who sold your soul.”Major props to Lonzo for going to bat for his fath15 Feb 2018 13:16:38 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/watch_lonzo_ball_8217s_debut_album_is_an_ode_to_his_dad/s1_14810_25716728
http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/watch_lonzo_ball_8217s_debut_album_is_an_ode_to_his_dad/s1_14810_25716728Lonzo Ball's debut album is an ode to his dadhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/watch_lonzo_ball_8217s_debut_album_is_an_ode_to_his_dad/s1_14810_25716728http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/e/6eaa82fdfbe4d9a06f96005885d5080dc6acb319/top_story/10615721.jpgCharles Barkley admits to once playing drunk in NBA gameCharles Barkley admitted during an interview this week that aired on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” that he once played in an NBA game “blasted.” In other words, Sir Charles was completely drunk. What’s more, Barkley claims to have no recollection of the game whatsoever.Barkley regaled Kimmel and the viewing audience during Wednesday’s show that the intoxicating situation arose because he was informed he had been traded by the Philadelphia 76ers to the Los Angeles Lakers in the late 1980s.“I was so excited, so me and my boys went out to celebrate and we started getting drunk in the middle of the day,” Barkley said. “My agent calls me back about three hours later and said ‘the Sixers pulled out of the deal,’ and we got a game that night. “First off, I was so p—–, but I was so drunk too,” Barkley continued. “I can remember a lot of games I played, but that day we were so excited I was getting out of Philadelphia and I was blasted I’m not going to lie.”Barkley insists that was the only instance when he played in an NBA gam15 Feb 2018 12:40:55 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/charles_barkley_spins_yarn_about_once_playing_drunk_in_nba_game_vid/s1_8061_25716461
http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/charles_barkley_spins_yarn_about_once_playing_drunk_in_nba_game_vid/s1_8061_25716461Charles Barkley admits to once playing drunk in NBA gamehttp://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/charles_barkley_spins_yarn_about_once_playing_drunk_in_nba_game_vid/s1_8061_25716461http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/1/01ce780f96e84e43f5372030a22bbd1697007a33/top_story/USATSI_9924202.jpgLamar Odom wants to play in BIG3 in honor of Rasual ButlerLamar Odom has been interested in playing in Ice Cube’s BIG3 basketball league for quite some time, but he may be more motivated than ever now to join a team for the upcoming season.Odom told TMZ on Thursday that he could be joining the BIG3 this summer, and he said he doesn’t have a preference of which team he plays for. However, he said he would like to play in honor of the late Rasual Butler, a fellow former NBA player who died in a car crash last month.“The person I wanted to play for just passed away, so it don’t matter,” Odom said. “I just want to go out there and represent for him.”Odom considered Butler one of his closest friends in the NBA.It’s unclear if Odom is going to receive an offer to play in the BIG3, as one coach said last summer that he would not want the former Los Angeles Laker on his team because of Odom’s well-documented issues in his personal life. While there have been reports that Odom has his drug problem under control, a disturbing video showed that he had collapsed in a nightclub 15 Feb 2018 12:11:52 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/lamar_odom_wants_to_play_in_big3_in_honor_of_rasual_butler/s1_127_25715936
http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/lamar_odom_wants_to_play_in_big3_in_honor_of_rasual_butler/s1_127_25715936Lamar Odom wants to play in BIG3 in honor of Rasual Butlerhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/lamar_odom_wants_to_play_in_big3_in_honor_of_rasual_butler/s1_127_25715936http://www.yardbarker.com/media/c/9/c9d34fae188b018bfa05fce0785601827b1a33b4/top_story/9950575.jpgGriffin’s ex: He had ‘toxic’ relationship with L.A. teammatesBlake Griffin is being sued by the mother of his children for allegedly abandoning her a week before the former couple was supposed to get married, and the lawsuit the woman filed also contains some juicy information about Griffin’s time with the Clippers.TMZ reports that Brynn Cameron has filed a palimony lawsuit against Griffin, claiming he is a bad father who has been “cruelly embarrassing his family with his public fawning over Kendall Jenner.” Griffin and Cameron have two children together and were engaged, but Cameron says the star forward called off the wedding at the last second when he became enamored with Jenner.The lawsuit, which was filed on Valentine’s Day, states that Griffin promised Cameron he would support her and the couple’s two children and convinced her to quit her sports marketing job. The documents include love letters from Griffin thanking Cameron for “all the sacrifices” she has made.“Cameron was not just the mother of Griffin’s children and their caregiver, she was also a constant su14 Feb 2018 15:50:26 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/blake_griffins_ex_in_lawsuit_he_had_toxic_relationship_with_clippers_teammates/s1_127_25708376
http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/blake_griffins_ex_in_lawsuit_he_had_toxic_relationship_with_clippers_teammates/s1_127_25708376Griffin’s ex: He had ‘toxic’ relationship with L.A. teammateshttp://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/blake_griffins_ex_in_lawsuit_he_had_toxic_relationship_with_clippers_teammates/s1_127_25708376http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/c/dc897ed1d4e01da66434d966b0c07e7d42a4043e/top_story/GettyImages-918360072.jpgIsaiah Thomas, Rajon Rondo ejected from Lakers-PelicansRajon Rondo and Isaiah Thomas were ejected from Wednesday’s Los Angeles Lakers-New Orleans Pelicans game after getting tangled up.The two got physical as the Lakers were getting set to inbound the ball in the first quarter and ended up getting tossed from the game: (@AdamJosephSport) February 15, 2018 Rondo had four points and five assists in eight minutes, while Thomas had three points in five minutes.Recall that there could be some beef between the two as Rondo threw some shade at Thomas previously.14 Feb 2018 22:47:25 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/isaiah_thomas_rajon_rondo_ejected_from_lakers_pelicans_game/s1_127_25711139
http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/isaiah_thomas_rajon_rondo_ejected_from_lakers_pelicans_game/s1_127_25711139Isaiah Thomas, Rajon Rondo ejected from Lakers-Pelicanshttp://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/isaiah_thomas_rajon_rondo_ejected_from_lakers_pelicans_game/s1_127_25711139http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/a/4a744af0a8718fa731e4d5af4eeda4db53d9692d/top_story/10613555.jpgIman Shumpert a deal-breaker in DeAndre Jordan trade?The Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly tried to acquire DeAndre Jordan from the Los Angeles Clippers right up until the day of the NBA trade deadline, but something happened that caused the deal to fall through.Nobody wanted Iman Shumpert.In an outstanding behind-the-scenes look at how the trade deadline turned into a frenzy for the Cavs, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Cleveland GM Koby Altman received the go-ahead from ownership to trade Jae Crowder, Channing Frye, Iman Shumpert and the the team’s 2018 first-round pick for Jordan. Shumpert has $21 million remaining on his deal and has not been very good, so the Clippers weren’t having it.
Clippers general manager Michael Winger explained to Altman that LA didn’t want another shooting guard. He hoped to find a third team that would take Shumpert and his $21 million with draft compensation, and have the Clippers get a center back. Altman and Winger agreed to make more calls to try to find a third team to make the deal work. Winger wondered whether Altman 14 Feb 2018 12:07:39 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/report_iman_shumpert_was_deal_breaker_in_potential_deandre_jordan_trade_to_cavs/s1_127_25706534
http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/report_iman_shumpert_was_deal_breaker_in_potential_deandre_jordan_trade_to_cavs/s1_127_25706534Iman Shumpert a deal-breaker in DeAndre Jordan trade?http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/report_iman_shumpert_was_deal_breaker_in_potential_deandre_jordan_trade_to_cavs/s1_127_25706534http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/1/713948412f1b3954e751c46554330dbbc9562a42/top_story/10538735.jpgWade won't 'have anything to do' with LeBron's free agencyDwyane Wade of course is among LeBron James’ closest friends and confidantes, but the 36-year-old veteran insists he will play no role whatsoever in helping James when it comes to the latter making a decision this upcoming summer about his NBA future, nor is he inclined to engage in any recruiting, either.Wade, happy to return home to South Beach when the Cleveland Cavaliers shipped him back to the Miami Heat last week at the NBA trade deadline, weighed in on his pal’s looming decision. “No. No, I don’t have anything to do with it, none of that,” Wade said, via the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “One thing I know is he makes his own decisions. So when we get to that point, hopefully, he takes a good look at the place he’s at and gives that real consideration and then goes from there.“It’s his decision and I don’t want nothing to do with it at all.”James of course can become a free agent after the 2018 season should he exercise his option, which he is widely expected to do. While that by no means indicates James 14 Feb 2018 12:54:43 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/dwyane_wade_wont_have_anything_to_do_with_lebron_james_free_agency_decision/s1_8061_25707287
http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/dwyane_wade_wont_have_anything_to_do_with_lebron_james_free_agency_decision/s1_8061_25707287Wade won't 'have anything to do' with LeBron's free agencyhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/dwyane_wade_wont_have_anything_to_do_with_lebron_james_free_agency_decision/s1_8061_25707287http://www.yardbarker.com/media/c/e/ce1273541171e1072e5f922b6aa6831a83bcad76/top_story/10335256.jpg